The Garden of the Sun
"Where... did... she... go." Yuuka stared down the smaller Remilia... she was -not- pleased with this development.
"Probably... probably to Marisa's house?"
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm not about to let the damned fool get away that easily." Yuuka took off immediately, heading towards the Forest of Magic, though as Remilia followed, she started leading, knowing the area a bit better.
"What do you mean? I don't think I'm following what's going on..."
"It's complicated, but suffice it to say that Satori must have stirred the beast that is my better half. I imagine the other Yuuka has been seeking me for a long time now... I'm doubtless a constant drain on her resources... now that she knows where I am, it's only a matter of time before she comes to collect... and I only have a few options. Hiding has worked well, if I could manage to escape again..."
Remilia blinked repeatedly. Yuuka was being unusually open. For some reason she couldn't explain, this terrified her even more... perhaps it was simply the news of another monster like Yuuka Kazami existing.
"Really, though, perhaps she'd be appeased if I handed her Gensokyo in a neat little bundle. You know, she might even let me go to some other realm and do it all again. Actually, I think she'd like that." Yuuka was mulling over the thought out loud, casually speaking of dooming Gensokyo.
"You... don't really mean that. I mean, your garden-"
"Hah! Oh, she'd be able to treat them to tortures I could only dream of... quite literally. I think I'd be alright leaving it in the only hands more capable than my own."
Remilia was -really- not comforted by hearing Yuuka admit she'd rather turn over Gensokyo than face the other self she spoke of.
"Oh, and don't tell this to anyone, of course. Because whether or not you believe any of what I'm telling you about my better half..." Yuuka turned to Remilia, showing that eerie smile that chilled the viewer to the core. "-I'm- still here to punish any transgressions."
Marisa's House
Satori was prepared for trouble, of course... she was jumping into what would obviously be a trap by Yuuka. She wasn't -quite- prepared for the pain and mental anguish of a crowd of people unable to move under their own will. Hundreds upon hundreds of hearts screamed for freedom... for the pain their bodies held them under to go away. Yet even stronger than the pain and despair was the fear... fear of being neglected... The fear that they would starve, unable to eat without being given instructions to do so.
Satori stumbled to the ground, overwhelmed... She had hoped to never again encounter a crowd so large, let alone one with such tumultuous emotions. Satori's third eye flitted about, confused, the pain the crowd of humans shared subduing all other sensation for so long...
She struggled to put up her defenses under the mental assault. She managed to suddenly succeed as a door closed somewhere nearby. It helped muffle the emotional torment enough for Satori to collect herself, though Satori couldn't guess how long it had been since she'd arrived. Only after a short while longer, when the initial shock of the pain passed, did Satori realize that the crowd was a fair distance away... a kilometer at least.
Perhaps Yuuka -did- know all about Satori... knew that Medicine should be here, lest the illusion fall apart. Satori managed to get to her hands and knees, and finally mustered the strength to look up, though again, her hope of escape faltered.
Marisa's house looked much the same as Marisa herself had remembered it. A terrible mess, with books, laundry, reagents, food, and furniture 'arranged' haphazardly. It was lit by some basic oil lanterns, it seemed, and their flickering lights struggled against the eternal darkness outside. But what Satori saw with her two mundane eyes disagreed somewhat with her third... she saw three bodies in the room, but sensed only two hearts. Further confounding matters, she saw Alice, but her heart was almost unrecognizable, nearly destroyed from doubt and self-loathing... the only hope she had left was that The Grimoire of Alice would remain unread.
"Hey, you're that lady on the posters." Big bounty for her, wasn't there? She must really be something if Remilia thought her a bigger problem than myself. Well, it made things easier, so I can't complain. Medicine's heart seemed vicious and loathsome. This was a youkai who had built an identity around pain, suffering, betrayal... and... something else... Satori didn't recognize it immediately, but it seemed foreign somehow... it didn't belong there. Medicine continued speaking as Satori still tried to get her bearings.
"You look like you've had a bit of a rough day. Would you like some tea?" Medicine offered her hand for support. No- not support... she intended to use her poisonous touch to infect Satori... make her drink the poisoned tea... to use the poison to completely control Satori, as Medicine controlled so many others.
Satori responded by lashing out with a burst of magic, then casting Byakuren's rejuvenation spell. Her body recovered, though her clothes remained torn. Satori once again took in her surroundings, now that she was restored and her mind now fortified against the distant torment. Medicine glared at her from across the room now... no- not Medicine... the body of poison that she had built... Satori glared at the small doll that had been the youkai's origin. And yet, the small girl seemed an extension of the doll, now... creating a sort of echo not unlike that of Youmu's heart.
Of course, Satori now noticed Patchouli. she was drinking tea, and frowning in Satori's direction... Satori could only guess that it was in response to Medicine's newly shameful state, or perhaps Satori's own. Something wasn't right... she should be able to read Patchouli's heart... Satori focused her third eye's gaze on the magician... but there was nothing... nothing at all. At first, Satori wondered if Yuuka simply hadn't completed the illusion... but then she realized another explanation.
"Remilia's not going to be very happy with what Yuuka's done to Patchouli."
"That's the purple one, right? Aww, she's just quiet. Hasn't said a thing these past few days, though, even when she's allowed to." Medicine sighed and picked herself calmly up before brushing herself off. She looked for an opening to take down Satori... and gawked at her when she saw that Satori was completely healthy. One helluva ruse... she looked half dead before. I've got to be more careful... she really -is- dangerous... she's properly suspicious too... And a little crazy, on top of everything. Yuuka hasn't been near Patchouli for... have they ever even met?
"Of course she wouldn't say anything. Trust me, there may be exceptions, but corpses are usually pretty quiet." Satori said. She scanned Alice's body... as expected, the Grimoire was right there... and Satori had no trouble seeing it... the wards Alice had diligently maintained had been worn away by Alice's mental deterioration as well as simple time. The book was in plain view... the lock merely decorative, now... Satori could sense from Medicine that the Grimoire was visible even to the poison youkai...
Indeed, Medicine Melancholy had been intending to take a closer look at it... she had been wondering just how she had missed it when it pulsed with such power... but once she had found it, she had realized she had no way to read it. She doubted she would need its power, but leaving such a thing around without investigating it was unlikely to end well. Satori's sudden appearance had only further reinforced the idea that a bit more preparation couldn't hurt, catching Medicine off guard as it had. Medicine would have to deal with this new intruder, first... and wait for her translator to arrive, though.
"Nah, she isn't dead. Isn't that right, Patchouli?" Medicine gestured to Patchouli, and what happened next surprised Satori. As easily as a human might draw a breath, Medicine made Patchouli's corpse draw one, manipulating tissue so thoroughly poisoned that it may well never decay... Then, 'Patchouli' started to speak, in her own voice.
"That's right. I'm simply continuing to learn under Medicine, here." Medicine's manipulation of Patchouli's vocal chords as the breath was carefully and deliberately forced back through them awed Satori. To use direct physical manipulation with such precision and so little thought... hardly more than Patchouli herself would exert... Medicine clearly had several centuries of experience with it... perhaps even more, considering that Medicine made Patchouli walk over to Medicine's own body to help brush her off. Not once did Patchouli's body stagger or falter, despite the uneven footing from the scattered loose clothing and magical reagents on the floor.
Yet, something wasn't right... despite such mastery and control. Alice was under the impression that Medicine was a -young- youkai, perhaps a few decades old, at most. Yet Medicine felt she had well over a thousand years of experience. It must be connected to that last bit of her identity somehow... a bit hidden by an impressive labyrinth. Medicine would likely never be aware of it... and Satori was, for the first time she could easily remember, having difficulty understanding part of someone's identity. That bit was certainly distinctive, but unfamiliar. Satori dismissed it... It was having a passive effect at most, so could be safely ignored... she hoped.
"While you're truly a magnificent puppeteer, you don't seem to realize you're controlling a corpse rather than a person... but then, I suppose there isn't really a difference to you, is there?"
"You know, you still haven't explained who you are, or why you're in my house." Medicine was stalling for time, trying to figure out how to remove Satori from her den.
"Of course, how rude of me. I'm Satori Komeiji, master of the Chireiden. I'm here on behalf of Remilia Scarlet, to free both her maid Sakuya Izayoi and her friend Patchouli Knowledge from your grasp." Satori bowed deeply, keeping her eyes fixed on Medicine. Sakuya? Ah, she must mean Bella.
"Indeed. It seems I have rather less to do than Remilia originally envisioned. Patchouli is freed from your grasp, and Sakuya Izayoi doesn't exist as such any longer, I suspect. I've satisfied our contract without doing anything... that must be how our fates seperated." Remilia might be doomed to be Yuuka's eternal torture victim, but Satori could... no, Satori -would- escape this illusory reality Yuuka had built.
"Well, if you've no further business, perhaps you'd best go. I'm rather busy, you see."
"First, I see you've found Alice's Grimoire. I feel you should be warned that it is not a tool to be trifled with."
"The warning's appreciated, but I think I know what I'm doing." Alice is a magician, so given the strength of this book and the nature of its owner, it's likely from Makai. Potent spells lie within... and they're mine for the taking.
"Of course, of course. I think you'll be disappointed with the sorts of spells you'll find within, though. They're really quite impractical." Satori advised. Detecting the expected surge of pride, she hastily clarified her statement. "No, they aren't necessarily beyond your skill to cast; they're merely beyond the strength of the world to endure."
"Oh? And are you so confident I care about the world?" Medicine asked. She'd better not get in my way...
"Well, so long as you dwell in it, yes. Don't mind me, though. Go ahead and have your translator get to it; you'll see for yourself soon enough. It's rather noisy outside, so I'll just wait here and recover myself so that I can leave your presence as soon as possible." Satori told nothing but the utter truth... though she omitted some things Medicine would probably rather know. The doll of Medicine Melancholy watched Satori carefully, doubting what Satori had said as the small girl of poison turned her attention towards the door.
Medicine reached out with her power and sensed that Bella had returned. Medicine moved the woman's arms as easily as she had just manipulated Patchouli, though here it was more of a symbol; permission to enter. Satori was well braced for the mental screams of the villagers this time, and the door closed behind the silver haired maid and another person who had just entered the room.
Medicine turned to the maid and her ward. "Ah, so someone thinks she can read it, then? That's good news." Medicine had earlier sent out a command to the villagers to each inscribe a specific series of symbols she had found from the Grimoire, then released her control over their faces, and instructed Bella to go out and find someone who seemed to recognize it. Amazingly, Bella had come through, and Medicine had been waiting impatiently for her translator... How... had Satori known that? Medicine paid a little closer attention to Satori, now, but continued speaking to the two who had just entered.
"I'm so glad you could help me with this little problem. You see, Alice says she won't let us go until you read the book, so it's very important..." Medicine lied through her teeth. I still can't believe they thought Alice is at fault... and all it took was a bit of planning...
"Thanks... it... it seems she's... lifted her control?" I can speak? I really can... Relief flooded through the girl's mind as she looked over towards Alice, who's body gave a dismissive wave as it spoke "Think nothing of it... a bit of a reward for helping me."
Of course, the mind within Alice was thinking differently. Stop it! You fool! Don't read the book... don't do it! You don't know the power it has! Oh gods... and she won't even let me tell her! Satori... I heard Satori... is Satori here? Why isn't she stopping Medicine. Satori, are you still here? Stop her!
Satori winced, biting her tongue as hard as she could. She had her plan, and she needed to stick to it... it was the only way to escape the illusion... and if she showed her hand too early, she'd be Yuuka's plaything forever. Of course, Alice's thoughts were a bit off in other ways. It seemed she was... actually worried about Medicine... worried that her captor was making a terrible mistake, and might suffer for it. Knowing the pain Alice had been in... and still suffered... Satori wasn't sure why Alice was sympathizing with her captor, rather than simply worrying about the book being used.
"Here's the book... I... I really hope you can read it like Bella thinks you can." And if not, then you'll pay the price for trying to deceive me.
"Bella? Huh, she looks a lot like someone else I know, then." I thought she was Sakuya Izayoi for a second there... Well, I suppose her stance is a bit more awkward than normal... She must be trying to imitate Sakuya. "I should be fine reading it, though."
Satori, of course, knew more... Bella had -been- Sakuya. Her loyalty remained supreme, though she was now dedicated to Medicine rather than Remilia... Satori could tell that Sakuya's mind had snapped recently, and her mind had taken on the new personality to cope with failing Remilia. The human mind worked strangely, to be sure... rather than admit she'd failed her mistress, she convinced herself Medicine was her mistress, and always had been... but her heart wasn't in it... not yet.
"Well, get to reading then. Be sure to read aloud anything interesting."
"Alright. Well, let's just skim for now..." The orange haired girl with bells in her hair flipped open the first page of the Grimoire... a page that Satori knew Alice had taken months to decode, despite her status as a native of Makai. The Grimoire itself seemed to be in some sort of struggle... Satori could sense through the girl's eyes words that tried to squirm out of sight. It wasn't merely one of Alice's wards... it was the book itself trying to remain unread by a creature as demeaning as a mere human. After just a few moments, though, the Grimoire was utterly defeated, and revealed secrets not meant to be read against the book's wishes.
The first page was an index, and the translator's eyes grew wide as she recognized just what secrets the book contained. Creating, linking, and annihilating worlds. Making life from nothing... Changing the nature of the universe... Creating and controlling Time... Everything anyone could ever need to create and manage a world however they wished... Who -wrote- this? She flipped the book over, looking for some indication of an author, but finding none. It's... it's beyond anything I've ever seen! There's no way this can be real!
"Well? What is it?" Can she read it? Or is she just as startled as I was at the script? Medicine didn't know what to make of the shock her translator displayed.
"I can't say." If anyone else knew what it was... to say this book could be the end of the world is putting it lightly. Suddenly... I don't think I want these eyes...
"Well, keep flipping through. I understand translation can take some time, and I'm rather patient. All the time in the world, you know." Alice's body casually voiced, even as her mind was screaming at the girl to shut the book and stop.
"What's your name?" Medicine asked casually. "It seems we'll be sitting here a while."
"Oh... Ah, of course, right. I'm Kosuzu Motoori... sorry, but... well, you know, it's a bit stressful." How can I get out of this? If I tell her I can't read the book, I'm dead or worse... but if I tell her I -can-... no, that's not even an option... Maybe I can stall long enough.
"Good to meet you. Well, I'll just wait here for a while as you keep working." Medicine sat her girl form down while watching Kosuzu, while her doll form kept watching Satori.
"Hey, what'cha doin', sis?" The whisper in Satori's ear made Koishi's presence known. "Boy, it was real hard to follow you here. When'd you learn to move so fast? Really impressive! Hey, think you can beat me now that you've got that speed?"
"I thought I told you not to follow me here..."
"Huh? Did you? I thought you didn't want me following you to that other place. Oh! Sorry about that, though. I guess I should leave, then?"
"No... now that you're here, trying to leave would only draw her attention more, I think. Best remain quiet for now. I think... I think we may be able to escape, yet." Yuuka's mistake had been making the mental prison physical... and while a mental prison may last forever, anything physical could be broken down with enough time and effort.
The Human Village, Hieda Household
A knock at the door drew the attention of three heads of purple hair, along with a few locks of brown, all dimly illuminated by a few lanterns.
"I suppose I should get it..." Akyuu was awake again. Her troubled expression was obvious, though she was still faring better than the people that had been sent against Byakuren. She dreaded committing this event to the Chronicles. To do so would be to curse every subsequent incarnation with the burden of witnessing that horrific scene... Byakuren's mutilated body... Every bit of that scene... the brutal sounds and sights... she could never forget them... unless she died without committing it to the chronicles...
"You're looking a bit pale again, Akyuu. I'll get it. Don't push yourself. You've been through a great deal." Byakuren said as she stood and moved towards the door.
"Thank you, Byakuren." Udonge said, with Akyuu nodding a silent agreement. As much as Akyuu had undeniably been through... Reisen had been there as well, and Byakuren... well, she'd had it worst of all. And yet they were up and about, as though nothing had happened... even going so far as to treat the injured.
Udonge looked nervously to Akyuu... her brooding hadn't gone unnoticed, but she would have to wait for treatment... if Udonge could even give it. She wasn't sure how well her hypnotism would even help, given Akyuu's memory. In any case, though Udonge could sense the torment Akyuu was experiencing without even looking, first she had to deal with everyone else's crushed egos.
Byakuren, for her part, was confident as she approached the door. She had been through tight spots before, and while she couldn't deny that she had been terrified while staring death in the face, Udonge had been a comforting presence, and knowing that someone would be willing to save Byakuren... As Udonge had helped Byakuren cast that spell, Byakuren thought for a moment that perhaps death needn't be quite so frightening. She still mourned the poor victims that surrounded her, as well as the ones they had buried, but she didn't let the despair that permeated the room overwhelm her. When all was said and done, it was still far and away better than the disaster Satori had prevented... and while Byakuren could and had thanked Udonge, she still had yet to deliver an apology and thanks to Koishi's sister. Hm. Koishi? Come to think of it, Byakuren wondered for a brief moment how the younger satori was doing... she hadn't been seen at the temple for some time, now.
Byakuren let that train of thought go free as she opened the door to reveal a wary young man... He looked familiar...
"Lady Byakuren Hijiri, I'm pleased to see you well. I came at your request, but along the way I met a pair of outsiders who believed they had killed you... they... uh, wish to speak with you, I guess?" He looked off to the side, doubtless at the outsiders in question.
Byakuren recognized him once he spoke. "Hiroyuki, right?" The young man nodded. Byakuren recalled his appearance at the temple some time ago... rather than seeking to join the Buddhist temple proper, he had simply wished to live among youkai for a time, to become accustomed to their presence. While initially wary of the young man, he hadn't caused any problems, and had even begun to warm up to youkai slightly in his time among them. When Ichirin had spoken with him as to his reason for joining the temple, she passed along to Byakuren that he was apparently interested in romantically pursuing someone surrounded... by... youkai...
Byakuren froze. She had assumed he had meant one of the other followers at the temple... but given the Moriya Shrine Maiden's recent desperate search for a 'Hiroyuki'...
"You... you're the one Sanae was looking for..." Byakuren muttered.
"Sanae was here?" Hiroyuki himself seemed shocked. "She... she should be busy on the mountain, shouldn't she? What was she doing looking for me at a time like this?"
"She heard about... wait, you said some outsiders said they thought they had killed me? Bring them here... I suspect I know what they're speaking of... it may be connected to the event that sent Sanae into a frenzy."
"Oh gods... She's like that again? And you just let her go?" Hiroyuki beckoned at someone from the side as he spoke to Byakuren.
"I take it that was unwise?"
"She's... very excitable... and not terrible prudent. When she gets excited... look, where did she go? I need to go talk some sense into her."
"I believe she was going to the Forest of Magic-" Byakuren had hardly finished before Hiroyuki was himself nearly gone. Her reactions were quick enough though, and she grabbed him by his shirt, halting his flight. "And I will go after her to ensure her safety, but she's going to try and deal with a threat that has itself controlled the entire human village. You'd only be exposing yourself to unnecessary risk... and if she's that wild just thinking you -might- be at risk, you wouldn't be doing anyone any favors getting yourself killed."
Hiroyuki slumped in her grasp, and she released him, sensing that her words had gotten through to him.
"You're right... I suppose it's time to see if those youkai extermination skills you've got are still enough... just... as soon as you can, please hurry." Hiroyuki's first words upset Byakuren. She didn't identify herself as a youkai hunter any longer, and had asked that people not keep spreading that little tidbit. She put her anger aside as she nodded... she had intended to go after Sanae once Byakuren's assailants had all been thoroughly treated, but it seemed she hadn't that sort of time.
"I suppose so. First though, I believe these are the outsiders you spoke of?" Byakuren was greeted by a pair of young women. Hiroyuki nodded, and moved aside quietly to let them speak. As they saw Byakuren, the blonde woman's face melted with relief.
"You -are- alive. Oh thank the gods... I thought I..."
"You were but one of many. Come in... it's only fitting you meet the other victims." Byakuren gave a welcoming gesture, and the trio of visitors entered, Hiroyuki last, closing the door behind him as a force of habit.
A short while later
"So... it was all real..."
"In a sense. I've heard this is a land of illusion or something of the sort... I'm still not entirely sure, but yes, it seems you were but one of many who had their bodies stolen to attack me. You've coped quite well... I mean, you've seen the others..." Byakuren reaffirmed. She had explained the details of the event that Maribel and Renko had described. Renko looked relieved, but Maribel was beginning to suffer the same sorts of guilt the other patients present were.
"Hey, Merry, don't worry so much. I mean, you've seen she's fine."
"Indeed I am. I felt pain, yes but it was pain I brought upon myself. Like you, I don't know how well I'd deal with being a murderer, now. It's been thousands of years since I've tried to kill a youkai or human." Byakuren stood as she turned to Hiroyuki. "But it looks like I might very soon, if things turn sour." Byakuren strode purposefully towards the door after seeing the pleading look in the young man's eyes. He was managing to keep a calm composure, but his impatience and concern were leaking through the polite stance.
"Thank you, Lady Byakuren. I'll do what I can here to help." Hiroyuki bowed.
"I'd appreciate it... I think what they need now is some human company." Byakuren left and closed the door behind her... they heard some chanting, then a shockwave seemed to rock the building.
"She can really move when she sets her mind to it, can't she?" Hiroyuki said to Udonge, who returned with a nod.
Akyuu looked to the two outsiders. "Renko... I remember that name... Merry, you've been here before, haven't you? Centuries ago?"
"I'm not sure... I mean... maybe? I thought they were dreams... and I still have normal dreams, and now I can't remember which were which."
"Ah. Well, I have a memo you wrote to yourself, if you'd like to see it. It's in the chronicles..."
"I... suppose? I wonder if it's coherent... I mean, I was kind of asleep or something at the time."
"Surprisingly so, but I'd like it if you could explain some of the terms you used..." Akyuu led them deeper into the mansion towards the chronicle's location. Udonge watched the two outsiders follower her with relief. It seemed Akyuu had needed something to take her mind off the downfall of the human village, and she was always eager to show off her lives' work. Hoping Akyuu would manage, Udonge turned back to Hiroyuki, who was watching her with wary eyes as he asked a question.
"I understand you've been treating these people?" Udonge nodded in response to the question.
"Then I owe you my thanks. I may not trust you or your kind, but thanks should be given where it is due." Hiroyuki bowed respectfully, but kept his eyes on Udonge, making clear his distrust.
"It's not really my place to apologize for what Medicine Melancholy has done, but I can at least apologize for my slow progress. I'm not much of a healer... I mean... my master... she's much more skilled. And Satori's a much better therapist, I think... she's really who-" Udonge stopped when she noticed Hiroyuki's curious look.
"I may not be a healer, myself, so..." Hiroyuki indicated one of the withdrawn humans... one with a severed arm. "treating these sorts of injuries is beyond me. I don't care if you're the best or not, your skill is worthy of respect."
"Thanks... I just they'd stop blaming themselves. What happened wasn't their fault." Udonge turned to another patient.
"I'm not surprised you don't understand... I'm not even sure I could explain it to you. I'm still young... I'm no sage. But... well... just because they didn't have a choice doesn't mean they weren't involved. A sword gets even bloodier than its wielder, right?"
"I... yeah. I suppose that makes sense." Udonge couldn't help but think of the first meaningful choice she had made... and thought of all the other lunar rabbits who hadn't even realized they had that choice... The lunar rabbits... now numbering only two...
"Well, I'm going to try talking some sense into these folks. I'm keeping my eye on you, so don't get any ideas."
"Actually, if you don't mind, I think I'm going to go sleep for a while... who knows when I might get another opportunity." Udonge was worried... she hadn't been able to reach Reisen for some time now.
"I don't know how you can rest at a time like this, but... well, I suppose if I could, I'd be tempted to, myself." Hiroyuki was tense, concern for not just the human villagers, but for Sanae as well weighed heavily on his mind. Udonge wished she could help resolve that, but perhaps it was for the best. She quietly left as the young man started trying to coax acquaintances out of their stupors.
Elsewhere in the Mansion
"A whole world of youkai! Can you believe it, Renko?" Maribel's gleeful excitement was hard to miss.
"Really now, it's just this little valley... and it's not nearly so glorious as you think." Akyuu reminded them.
Renko was considerably more restrained than Maribel, but she, too, seemed excited. "Yes, yes, it's dangerous... I think appearing in the middle of a ghost town got that point across pretty well. But it's still -new-."
"Thanks for offering to show us more, but we should probably get back, soon. I'm still not really sure what happens to us over there... over then? Huh. Anyway, I'm not sure what happens to us when we dream dive like this." Maribel looked to Renko, who seemed to nod.
"You know better than I do when to go. This is a nice place to visit, but I don't think I'd like to live here." Renko explained, before turning back to Akyuu and giving a goodbye wave.
"Well, I can't blame you. I wouldn't mind visiting the outside world once in a while, myself, but it's not really... well, allowed." Akyuu returned the wave.
They kind of waved awkwardly for nearly a minute, the awkward silence stretching out...
"Uh... Merry?" Renko looked concerned at her friend, who was looking more worried by the second.
"Ah.. heh... I... I can do this... I've done it dozens of times before... just... just gotta wake up from the dream." Maribel was clearly focusing on -something-... and -something- was happening; the air around her seemed to shimmer a little, like heat was distorting it. The shimmering became more and more violent, until it looked more like a waterfall surrounding her... And the look on her face changed from worry to panic. Suddenly the shimmering stopped.
"It... it isn't working, Renko! Something's wrong!" Maribel's panicked tone and expression immediately dissolved Renko's desire to make a quip.
"What... you mean we're stuck here?" Maribel's fear was beginning to infect Renko, now.
Akyuu had long since stopped waving. "You were trying to use some powerful magic... yet you said you don't know any?"
Maribel nodded, then shook her head, then nodded again... she was clearly confused.
"Calm down, Merry." Renko tried to comfort her friend before turning to Akyuu. "We don't, really. She's just always... been able to see things... and recently, she's been able to take me. And now, well... it seems we don't know how to get back."
"Well, your best bet is probably paying a visit to the Hakurei Shrine then, but it's a bit of a dangerous journey... especially with the darkness outside. I wouldn't advise trying to make the journey without a fair bit of company. And unfortunately, it seems there isn't anyone to spare at the moment... I'm sorry."
"No, no, it's fine. We'll make do for a while. I mean, if we really are in the past, then it's not like the future's going to just move on without us." Renko seemed confident...
"I wouldn't be so sure... well, if Gensokyo has a place for you, however temporary, it'll make sure to put you there. Keep your heads down, and you might manage to keep them long enough to get back home."
Outside the Dark Blowhole
Eirin had her hands full. One of her patients was deathly ill, and the other two were rapidly reaching that point. The pale light she had created didn't inspire much hope. A more thorough splint had been applied to Tenshi's broken arm, but that did little to ease the disease ravaging her body.
"I never thought the day would come when I had to treat a sick celestial." Eirin told Unzan. Of course, she didn't expect a reply... Unzan had been helpful, but quiet. Tenshi and Nazrin slipped between unconsciousness and delirium, and Ichirin had yet to awaken. She would need some more supplies to treat them all, but at least their conditions hadn't kept rapidly deteriorating. She cast a spell to open a line of communication to her apprentice, and Reisen Udonge Inaba's face appeared floating, looking like she rather concerned... and something was a bit off, besides.
"Udonge, are you there?" The rabbit's head shot up and looked directly at the image.
"Ma... master? You're awake!" The lunar rabbit youkai was elated.
"I am, yes. I assume Medicine is still at large, so Eientei is barred to us? I have some patients who need care."
Udonge didn't even bother trying to hide her joy at Eirin's recovery as she answered the question. "I don't know. I haven't been back since I went to go get help. Oh, master, I've been waiting so much... I've been trying to heal people, but Medicine's just... too much."
"Don't blame yourself... it's as you've said, she's a handful. Well, I don't have time to check on Eientei, now... these patients are in terrible condition. Where are you? do you have supplies there?"
Udonge nodded. "Yeah. I'm at the Hieda household right now. There's... well, a fair amoint. The Scarlet Devil Mansion has more, though. Reisen's over there, now."
"Ah, she must be the 'other rabbit' Youmu spoke of. I suspected as much."
"She's... well, doing rather well, it seems. I mean, I doubt anyone other than you could fix their affliction, and she's at least managing to keep them stable. But I haven't been able to reach her lately... my telepathy was really full of static last time, and now it's just plain not working... I'm worried something may have happened to her."
"When we get a chance, we can look into it. But don't say I'm the only one who can cure their affliction... I was under the impression that you removed the poison Medicine dosed me with. Is that -not- true?"
"Well... I mean, I did, but it didn't help." Udonge averted her eyes... Eirin may not be able to read her apprentice's mind, but Udonge had always been particularly easy to read.
"I'm moving around just fine now. Youmu's blade may have given me the final push, but you're the one who put me back together. Don't dismiss that. With a little time, I'm sure you could cure the others as well." Eirin said, trying to console Udonge.
"You're right, I suppose. I just... I wasn't able to do anything to help Toyohime, or the princess, or..."
"I think you did well, considering the limited training, resources and experience you had. What -does- concern me is that you encouraged a satori to cast an unknown spell from my mind after cobbling it back together without any context." Eirin had done what she could to encourage her student... but like any good master, pointing out a student's failings was no less important.
"Well... but it worked. We're safe from the demons now. Though... I would... well, like to see the sun again."
"That brings me to my current task; I'm trying to find Satori to convince her to end the spell immediately. The longer it goes, the greater threat the world is in. It was never meant to be cast, and certainly not maintained to the extent it has been. It -was- worthwhile, and if she was able to perform it, she'll likely be able to fix the problems it was able to cause."
"Then, what's the problem? Satori was just-"
"The problem is that you left her alone afterward... you didn't even stand nearby as she cast the spell. What if she's killed before she can release the Earth? What if she's taken hostage; the kidnapper would have the fate of the world in their hands. You helped give someone the Earth, then you let them wander free without so much as an escort." Eirin stared hard at Udonge as she spoke.
"I... I thought it was just an illusion... I thought it was the same spell you cast-"
"It wasn't. Tell me, do you recall me needing to fuel the spell with the essence of others, including a celestial and oni, leaving the former drained to the point that she broke an arm fighting a lowly Earth Spider? Do you recall the sky vanishing?" Eirin still kept a calm facade, but Udonge had been around her master long enough to know when Eirin was forcing herself to remain calm.
"No, but-... wait, what was that about a celestial?"
"Perhaps you'd know if you'd been there when she actually -cast- the spell that put the world on the brink of destruction." Eirin's calm, accusatory voice made Udonge recoil.
"I'm sorry." Udonge was on the verge of tears. "I didn't mean for-"
"Ignorance seems to remain your largest flaw... but ignorance can be overcome, and none are free from its influence. For now, we should try and find Satori as quickly as possible." Eirin said, taking a deep breath.
"Of- of course. But... she's not in Chireiden still, then?"
"She wasn't when I left, no. Suika and Youmu are still down there, keeping an eye on things and waiting to catch her if she returns. I plan on continuing to look around, but I've unfortunately acquired a trio of patients. Would you mind looking after them?" Eirin said, looking over her shoulder, where Nazrin and Tenshi were muttering incoherently.
"I... you could, and I could go look for Satori. You're better at this than I am..."
"Quite simply, I don't have the time. I can get them to you, but I think I can find Satori faster than you could."
Udonge nodded. "Of- of course. And finding her is more important. Sure, just bring them over."
"Actually, Unzan here will be delivering them." She shifted the spells focus to the Nyuudo in question.
"Oh... okay..." Udonge looked rather disappointed, but Eirin didn't have time to make a personal appearance just to ease the lunar rabbit's mind.
"Be warned; they were infected by the Earth Spiders, so they're likely to be extremely contagious. Take appropriate precautions. Unzan will coordinate with you when he gets closer. He's quiet, but he seems to be immune to whatever they were inflicted with, and has a vested interest in helping them stay alive, so make good use of his help."
Udonge nodded and meekly listened as the conditions of the patients were explained.
Chireiden
Youmu looked despondently towards Suika. The oni had done nothing other than drink, and seemed to be doing a very good job of getting herself drunk. Actually, Youmu was sure she'd never seen Suika so inebriated. The little oni was literally unable to stand or form any coherent sentences. She had only stopped drinking after she was unable to coordinate her movements enough to continue.
What struck Youmu as odd, though, was that it had hardly taken any time at all. Suika had gotten drunk after merely a few drinks from her gourd, the amount one would -expect- someone of her diminutive size to have difficulty consuming. Every time she'd regained enough motor control to take another drink, she did... Youmu was dying to know how Eirin and Tenshi were faring, but she didn't know any appropriate magic to try and reach them, and Suika was... well...
"Please, could you take easier on the drinking? We've been entrusted with caring for-"
"Brpfgh." Suika mumbled into the ground.
"Right. I think it's time to cut you off." Youmu reached for Suika's gourd, and the oni didn't even notice when Youmu took it and stowed it away. "There. That should help a bit. I doubt you could find your way to any alcohol in your condition."
Several minutes passed before one of Satori's many pets reported to Youmu, bearing a written note in Orin's handwriting. Another status report, very basic...
Nothing noteworthy or exceptional happening over here. We're all a bit winded, but we should be able to keep meeting quota. We'll let you know if that changes. Any word from or about Satori?
Youmu winced. She knew the entire message had probably been sent just to ask that last question. She pet the cat as she wrote up a quick reply.
Thank you for the update. No word from Eirin or Satori yet. I will try and get Suika sober enough to contact them for an update. Please continue the good work.
Youmu felt a bit nervous as she gave the response to the cat. She wished she could tell Orin good news, but... well... Youmu turned to Suika again, nudging her over onto her back with a gentle shove of her foot.
"Whadddda..." Suika muttered. Looking impressed with herself for getting such a coherent word out, she decided to take another drink from her gourd. She fumbled around for it, confused.
Youmu stood impatiently. "You aren't going to find it that easily. I need you sober- well, -more- sober, anyway."
"Wherrre?" Suika slurred out the question. Her bewilderment was swiftly growing to some combination of fear and anger.
"You won't be getting it back until we manage to contact Eirin." Youmu stated flatly.
Suika tried to stagger to her feet with absolutely no success. Youmu still couldn't believe it. Suika simply lay there, utterly defeated without Youmu so much as raising a finger against her. Soon, gentle snoring confirmed that the oni wouldn't be contributing much anytime soon. Youmu set about making Suika comfortable, at least, and then proceeded to wait.
Marisa's House
Satori could feel the mental scream of confusion, rage, and a dozen other emotions dashing towards the house. She braced herself, well aware that once Sanae opened that door, it would be a struggle to even remain conscious, let alone do what she needed to. Kosuzu had made good progress through the manuscript, desperately searching for something she could give Alice that -wouldn't- put the world at risk. She'd heard about the demon invasion, so any of the spells that included opening a link or gate to Makai as part of the casting were right out (And a great many did, simply to channel enough energy from that realm to power the spell)... she had to read and understand the text before dismissing it, though... and Satori had been watching the whole time...
Medicine seemed to be able to perceive that which the people she controlled did... Not terribly well, but enough to tell that Sanae had been looking among them, growing more and more irritated and impatient, before running off towards the house. As such, Medicine was hardly surprised when the door slammed open.
Sanae looked around the room... and she was looking pretty roughed up. Satori could tell that flying blind at full speed through the forest had made Sanae well acquainted with a number of branches and trunks. "Alice Margatroid! I'm here... to..." Is that Satori? What is she doing here? Oh, and Medicine... She must be being controlled as well. That must be what they were talking about... she's a doll, that seems right... Alice is a puppeteer, yeah. Sanae quickly resolved her confusion and picked up her statement, not even noticing the hidden silver-haired maid.
"I'm here to free the villagers, and find out what you've done with the others."
Medicine was more than a little confused at that last bit, but manipulated Alice's body into replying nonetheless.
"Well, I don't know what others you may be speaking of, but rest assured that the villagers have yet to learn their lesson, and they will stay here until they do. You're welcome to join them, of course. A duel, then?" Alice's body spoke, even as her mind continued shouting helplessly at Kosuzu to stop reading. Satori saw that Kosuzu was distracted, that Medicine was nearly to Sanae, now. It was perfect. Almost too perfect... perhaps Yuuka expected Satori to warn Sanae of the true threat... indeed, there was still time... Satori, of course, had expected this situation as soon as she'd realized Medicine was the true culprit. But this was it; her chance to escape... so Satori remained silent and doomed the shrine maiden.
"I won't let you have your way with them, and if a duel's what you want, well then you've got it!" Sanae was eager to put Alice in her place. Medicine Melancholy's poisonous young girl body hugged Sanae's legs as it pleaded, the small doll form grabbing futilely at Sanae's hand, trying to calm her down.
"Oh, please don't fight her. She's ever so dangerous! If you lose, you don't know what she'll do to me." Sanae shoved her away, but the damage had been done, though the shrine maiden remained ignorant. Satori knew Medicine's true intentions... Sanae's legs and hands were now coated in poison, and in but a short while, that poison would spread through Sanae's body, allowing Medicine to use the shrine maiden as a puppet, just like Sakuya, Alice, Patchouli... just like the entire human village...
"I'm just doing my job... Youkai extermination." Sanae's grinned widely as she pulled out her spellcards. As Medicine watched the fight prepare to unfold, Satori could tell that she had slipped the poison youkai's mind... indeed, only Alice and Bella even remembered she was in the room... this was the opening Satori had been waiting for.
Satori carefully and subtly bent space, bringing the Grimoire of Alice within her reach, without moving. Alice seemed ignorant, but Bella seemed to still have some ability to sense when space was being manipulated. She couldn't tell exactly what was going on though, and simply watched, more curious than anything else.
Kosuzu was simply shocked and confused, while Medicine remained oblivious, until Satori started chanting and swiftly weaving a spell. Kosuzu recognized it immediately, and tried to stop Satori... but the distance was long... so long. "No! Stop!"
Kosuzu's cries drew attention to the rest of the room, and Medicine Melancholy shrieked in rage as she saw the book in Satori's grasp, her anger echoed by each of her puppets. Suddenly, everyone in the room was diving for Satori save for Sanae, who stood confused, and Satori herself. Despite merely being on the other side of the room, though, their dashes came far short of reaching Satori before she finished the spell, using the Grimoire itself as a focus...
A gate to Makai opened before her. Stowing the Grimoire away, Satori calmly declared a statement to no one in particular and left the room in confusion...
"You've defeated yourself once again, Yuuka." The satori stepped through, and the frenzied sprint of the room's inhabitants reached the gate just as it snapped shut in front of them.
"Did she just..." Sanae's question was interrupted...
"AARRRRRRGGGHHH!" Medicine's fury was palpable... poisonous clouds puffed out from both the girl and the doll, swiftly covering the whole room.
Sanae conjured a powerful wind that blew the miasma to the corners of the room, though not before she'd gotten a whiff of it herself.
"Hey, quiet down!" Sanae told Medicine, though she kept a wary eye on Alice. Medicine turned around and stared at Sanae as the small girl spoke.
"Where. Did. She. Go?" Medicine's every word was punctuated by a single step towards Sanae. Come to think of it, Medicine was giving off a bit of a nasty vibe. As soon as Sanae had settled her grudge with Alice, she'd be sure to take down Medicine, too.
"That was a portal to Makai... I'd recognize that realm no matter what." Cold chills went down Sanae's spine as she turned back to Alice.
"And you... What part did you play in this? I'll have an answer, even if I have to beat it out of you."
Alice suddenly seemed to notice Sanae once again. "You're welcome to try, you foolish, stupid child. You can't even tell when an enemy is in front of you... to think you could defeat one that surrounds you... well, let's go outside, so you can learn the height of your folly."
Sanae was well aware of the Puppeteer's tricks, and moved in a wide circle, to keep any possible doll ambushes accounted for, and as soon as they were outside, Sanae flew up and declared her first spellcard...
Byakuren landed a fair distance from the crowd of people. She wasn't sure if they'd be able to alert Medicine to her presence, but better safe than sorry. She cast a tremendous amount of wards and enhancements... now knowing who she was truly facing, she warded herself thoroughly against poison in particular.
Finally prepared, as she swiftly approached Marisa's house, Byakuren had no trouble noticing the duel taking place above it. She noticed Sanae suddenly stop with a confused look on her face, before Alice fired a single, easily dodged shot at Sanae's face. Byakuren watched as Sanae's face displayed her fear and panic... but she still failed to move out of the way, getting hit and falling first onto the roof, then rolling off of it and hitting the ground, hard... Byakuren wasn't even sure if she was alive or not as her body lay still next to Medicine.
"Medicine Melancholy! You will release all these people from your control!" Byakuren spotted the doll, who had been underneath the duel and watching it with an angry look on her face. When she heard her name, she shifted that gaze towards Byakuren, and Sanae's fallen form got to its knees and sat with her legs under her, as Alice moved towards Medicine.
Byakuren moved next to Medicine in but a moment, but the poisonous youkai already had Sanae's head in her grasp.
"I don't think I will, no. I'm -really- not in a good mood, magician, so if you value any of their lives, you'll be leaving now." Medicine said, Sanae's terror clear in her expression, though she made not even the slightest move to struggle. Alice landed next to Medicine and waited.
"How about I challenge-"
"I'll accept no duel. Well... perhaps if you're willing to stake all of their lives and yours on it? I win, and all of you remain mine forever? You win and they go free?"
Byakuren didn't finish her declaration... she stopped and thought as she watched Medicine carefully. While she was quite confident she knew all of Medicine's tricks... was she so confident as to wager the lives of so many innocents? Direct assault was out of the question, as well, with Sanae's neck still being bent at a very awkward angle.
"What do you want from them?"
"Actually, They're simply learning a lesson. There may be something you can help me with, though. I want a gate to Makai. This girl says that's where Satori went, and I intend to follow her." Medicine declared flatly as she indicated Sanae. "You're a magician; you ought to know how to get there, yes?"
"I absolutely refuse." Byakuren knew the consequences of... wait, Satori went there? Why? She -knew- the sorts of things that lived there, possibly even better than Byakuren did, given how she'd been searching.
Medicine turned Sanae's head just a little more, causing the shrine maiden's eyes to light up in panic. "You know, I'm not -certain- how much it takes to break a human's neck... after all, Eirin lied about a great many other things. But I do think I'm getting quite close, and it would just be a shame if you were responsible for even more death, don't you think?"
Byakuren was frozen. Youkai extermination had been so much easier when she was younger. Back then, she'd have thought nothing at all of destroying Medicine, no matter how many hostages were shielding her. Now, a single person; important though she may be, was enough to protect Medicine. She cursed Medicine Melancholy for using Byakuren's remaining humanity as a weapon against her. Before she could give her reply, though, a scarlet blur sent Medicine tumbling away. Sanae, freed from the youkai's grasp, tumbled loosely along the ground before slamming into a tree trunk, where she lay motionless once again.
Byakuren darted forward to intercept Medicine, but Alice interposed herself between the two. Byakuren's heightened reflexes managed to dodge out of the way, and even noticed the magical trap wires Alice had set up, dodging around them as they sprang into existence, but Alice was doing a terrific job at barring Byakuren from Medicine.
Meanwhile, Remilia had Medicine thoroughly wrapped in scarlet magical chains.
"Where is Sakuya?" Remilia growled, and Medicine pointed over towards Sakuya, who at this very moment was rushing towards the pair.
"Good answer." Remilia said, before turning to Sakuya. "Are you finished here, already? Flandre's getting hunggrrrrrg."
Remilia's sentence was cut as suddenly as her torso, brutally slashed by the silver-haired maid. The interruption disrupted Remilia's hold on the chains, and Medicine broke free.
"Oh, did I forget to mention? She works for me, now. Go ahead and finish her, Bella."
"Bella? What a stupid name. Kill her, Sakuya!" Remilia commanded, tugging at the fate string... only to grab nothing at all. How... how had she broken it? As Remilia looked at her empty hands in stunned shock, her former servant took the opening and slashed furiously at Remilia, her silvered knives cutting deep into the vampire's flesh.
Remilia nearly lost it. She wasn't pleased by insubordination... and it seemed the maid had forgotten her place. Well, Remilia had captured Sakuya once, and she could do so again. The maid managed to keep Remilia on her toes, teleporting around... no, Remilia knew she was using the time manipulation again. What's more, Sakuya's attack patterns were different... it was like fighting an entirely different person. Even so, her attacks were as patterned as ever, and after just a few minutes and a few dozen horrendous cuts, Remilia triumphed, finally pinning her maid to the floor.
"I win." Remilia declared, but the maid simply grinned as her new master spoke.
"No, I think the victory is mine. Bella stays with me." Medicine said, holding a rather sharp knife to the throat of a certain purple haired beansprout of a woman.
Remilia looked up from the maid she had captured to Patchouli, then back to her maid, and simply kept holding down Sakuya. Remilia tried to understand what was going on... tried to decide who was worth more, Sakuya or Patchouli, and cursing that she had to make a choice. Only then did she notice Sanae had approached Medicine, though the shrine maiden's clothes and hair were covered in dirt and blood, and her breathing tremendously labored. Remilia could tell the girl was crying, but still Sanae put her head into Medicine's free arm, as the doll youkai twisted it carefully, putting her in a potentially deadly lock once again and lifting Sanae off the ground. The Shrine Maiden's body hung limp, even while Medicine floated behind Patchouli, using her as a shield with the knife to her throat.
"Let them go!"
"You had your chance to save them. Really, neither of you will just give up, will you?" Medicine was fed up. "All I ask is a few little favors, but -no-, you want to keep me from getting back what's rightfully mine."
"I can't open a gate to Makai! You don't know what lives there!"
"And I don't care! All I know is that Satori stole something of mine and fled there... and I want it back!" Medicine's anger was beginning to break her composure.
"That's the spirit, girl! My, how far you've come since last we met!" Yuuka said as she quietly applauded, drawing angry glares from Medicine, Remilia, and Byakuren alike. None were sure just how long she'd been standing there, quietly, but Byakuren and Remilia at least were wondering why she wasn't intervening.
"You are an -astounding- example of a youkai. Truly, I applaud your efforts. The entire human village, three of the biggest names in Gensokyo cowering and submitting before you... why, I can't think of a better role model for the modern youkai." Yuuka continued, and though Medicine wasn't particularly angry any longer, she was certainly still annoyed as she replied.
"What do you want?"
"Well, I was going to help Remilia here, but you know, I think you'd be a far more capable ally. I mean, what sort of youkai hesitates in order to spare a human, let alone another youkai?"
"She hesitates to kill her friends. Just because you can't form strong attachments doesn't mean she can't!" Byakuren yelled at Yuuka, her own patience wearing thin.
Remilia stared at Sakuya... attachment...? Yes, there -had- been an attachment, hadn't there? But it was gone now... the maid in her grasp wasn't the Sakuya Remilia had spent so much time with. Remilia didn't even need to check to know that Patchouli's fate had been similarly cut free... years... decades of not just work twisting fates, but honest to goodness friendship, all gone. 'Bella' grinned back, confident that Medicine's victory was complete, though Remilia still had her firmly by the shoulders, completely pinned. Remilia recognized the expression as one she herself had worn many, many times. Medicine wore it now, as well... she had the upper hand, and she knew it.
And now it was time for Remilia to change those smug grins into something else, as Satori had done to her so many times... as Yukari had done, as Yuuka had done... it was time to take back control of her life, and woe betide any who got in her way.
Remilia extended her claws, directly into the pinned maid's chest and back, before launching herself directly at Medicine, Remilia's claws tearing relentlessly through her former servant's body as she did. The silver haired woman's scream of pain might have served as a warning to Medicine if it had reached her before Remilia did. As it was, Medicine was completely off guard for the right-handed claw swipe that gouged both her an her shield, nearly severing her arm, and digging deeply into her torso, while Patchouli was simply shredded, sliced cleanly through. Byakuren watched Remilia slice through her friend of centuries without a second thought, and was shocked at the brutal display.
"Wha-" Medicine's cry was cut short by Remilia's other swipe, again with her right arm neatly severing her head. Medicine still had her other body, though, and Remilia had made the fatal flaw of touching Medicine Melancholy. Already, the poisonous blood that covered Remilia's right forearm was exerting control, reaching up to decapitate its owner.
But Remilia acted first, grabbing her right arm by the shoulder with her left hand and ripping it right out of its socket before launching it into the air, followed by a blast of immensely destructive magic. Medicine struggled to defend herself, interposing Alice and Kosuzu between herself and her vicious attacker, but Remilia turned into a swarm of bats, moving beyond their defenses before reforming, both arms present once again. She fired a blast of magic to slam them hard into the side of Marisa's house before continuing on.
Bursts of poison flew from Medicine's two bodies, her doll form clearly panicking, her other one incapable of moving from the damage it had sustained. Remilia approached, beating her wings furiously enough to cause a small windstorm, while her feet dug trenches walking against the pressure exerted by her wings. It was perfectly clear to the onlookers who was in charge, now. Remilia smiled calmly as she pointed her reformed right arm towards Medicine's twin bodies, and launched her chains of fate, spearing them into both the doll and girl, before entwining them in the scarlet bindings.
"You brought this on yourself. You and Yuuka have reminded me what it means to be a youkai. I was too attached to a mere servant; how could I have hoped to rise above being a servant, myself?" Remilia turned to Byakuren. "And I know you're thinking of trying to stop me, of asking me to spare this monster. But shouldn't you be tending to those others, instead? I think that maid's likely to bleed out soon, if you don't help her."
Byakuren looked to Sakuya's shredded torso as the woman bled horrifically. And then there was SanaeSanae... in the confusion, Byakuren wasn't sure whether her neck had been broken from Remilia's onslaught... Alice and the orange haired human lay limp against the building, the former in a very dangerous position; headfirst, halfway through the newly shattered window... if she awoke, she may well disembowel herself before she realized where she was. It was clear -Yuuka- wasn't going to help any of them... and Byakuren had to admit... Medicine may well have crossed the line... may well be beyond saving. She'd turned away applicants from her temple because they weren't willing to abandon their nature, after all... She decided to leave it in Remilia's hands, and concern herself with saving those she knew to be worth saving.
Remilia heard Byakuren rushing around to help the injured, and bared her fangs in a confident grin. Yet, she was still wary, careful of any tricks the poison youkai might have on her hands. Remilia's keen ears thus picked up the distant, hasty footfalls that approached from the forest.
"They won't get here in time. I don't plan on talking that long." Remilia pulled the chains tighter, and a puff of poison spread from Medicine, swiftly blown away again by the wing-made windstorm.
"Just remember. This is what happens when you cross Remilia Scarlet... The Scarlet Devil." She swung the chains into the air, and with her left hand, engulfed them with a blast of magic. So tight were the bonds, Medicine Melancholy had no hope of escaping, no hope of dodging, no air to scream with...
The blast engulfed the youkai of poison's two bodies entirely, and not even dust remained behind as the energy lit the otherwise empty sky in an ominous red.
"Oh, well done, Remilia. It looks like you had it in you after all." Yuuka applauded. "I suppose you -are- worthy of respect."
The Netherworld.
Medicine Melancholy opened her eyes, and found herself in an unfamiliar environment. Knowing what had just happened, it could be nothing apart from the Netherworld. Nothing but unfamiliar faces all around... none that even paid her the slightest bit of mind... indeed, they actively ignored her. Over the din of the crowd, she heard a few voices that were vaguely familiar... and caught a glimpse of one of the phantom musicians she'd seen long ago. Yes, she was dead... and none here knew of the threat she represented. Letting all those humans live to see the folly of their actions seemed to be being rewarded now.
Only those involved in that final fight would know that Medicine had been the culprit... and Medicine had every confidence that Byakuren would be able to restore them. Yes, it seemed Medicine would have very little impeding her, here.
Rabbits and Lunarians alike thought nothing of the little doll youkai as they thoughtlessly brushed her aside, contaminating their hands... and not a one of them even noticed the grin that spread on the girl's face, nor that the doll shared it...
Author's notes: Late again. Argh. Real Life, being a thing. Anyway, I've had this planned for quite a while, now... Well, obviously not Kosuzu's part in it... actually, her appearance as a canon character couldn't have been better timed for this. Someone from the human village who's power is reading the unreadable? I probably more or less butchered her personality, but it was just too perfect to try to -avoid- using.
Beyond that, Thank you again for reading. and feedback is always appreciated. I was all nervous that I turned off reviews by accident or something last time, though.